Gabriele Gravina's step back has arrived. The FIGC president officially resigned during a meeting with all Italian soccer components held at the federal offices in Rome following the national team's crushing defeat in the race for the 2026 World Cup. The decision came just days after Italy's defeat in Zenica, which resulted in their third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup. Gravina announced his retirement while also calling federal elections for June 22, the date on which the new president will be chosen. Until then, he will remain in office to maintain normal management and fulfilment of government commitments. Giovanni Malagò, Giancarlo Abete, and Matteo Marani are among the candidates circulating for the succession. However, a clearer picture will take several weeks. Gravina also addressed the controversy that had arisen in the aftermath of Bosnia-Italy, specifically his statements regarding the distinction between professional and amateur sports, which elicited a response from a number of Italian athletes from other disciplines. The FIGC clarified that his statements were not intended to be insulting, but rather to highlight the differences in rules and organizational procedures that set professional soccer apart from other forms of Italian sport.